The City of Batavia Fire Department, in conjunction with the City Fire Fighters Union, IAFF Local 896, is sponsoring the first Annual Fire Prevention Poster Contest. The contest is open to students from grades 1 – 5 in Batavia City Schools and the winner will get a ride to school in the City’s newest Fire Engine.

The contest is in conjunction with the 2013 Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12) theme of “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” Cooking is the number one cause of home fires, and a significant contributor to home fire deaths. Students’ posters should highlight the dangers of unattended cooking and risky kitchen habits. Ideas and more information can be found at the Fire Prevention Week website www.FPW.org

“Annual statistics show that two out of every five fires start in the kitchen, and cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire related injuries,” said Jim Maxwell, Batavia Fire Chief. “This year's fire prevention week theme ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires’ highlights the dangers of kitchen fires-most of which result from unattended cooking, and teaches residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place.”

Local 896 President, Greg Ireland, shared his thoughts on this year’s program, “Our hope with this contest is to get children to discuss fire safety with their teachers and fellow students as well as parents and guardians.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires in 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and over $853 million in direct damage. Unattended cooking was a factor in 34% of reported home cooking fires and two-thirds of all home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials. Also, microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires. Nearly half (44%) of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 were scald burns. Scald burns are generally caused by hot liquid, fluid, or vapor, including hot tap water, overheated beverages, steam, and hot oil.

The poster contest can be a take-home project, individual class project or an art class project. Information has been distributed to (Batavia) City schools, but City area home schooled children are welcome to participate as well. In order to be considered eligible, all contest posters must be turned in to the Fire Station located at 18 Evans Street in Batavia no later than Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 4pm. Schools/groups may contact the fire department at palmer@batavianewyork.com to arrange in-school pick up of posters. Official Rules and more information about the contest can be found at www.BataviaNewYork.com. Judging of the posters will take place the second week of October. The winner of each group will receive a ride to school on any City fire, and be invited to a special awards luncheon with their family held at the fire station in October.